Aggressive 2-drop that can recur late game. Decent topdeck midgame since it has haste and can prevent smaller creatures from blocking. I think I might test this over Abbot, not sure yet. I like the fact that this can go immediately after a planeswalker and bypass a single dork generated by the PW to get through. Thoughts?
Haste makes it exactly what aggressive decks want (outside of being a 3/2 for 2) and while the Eternalize is expensive, a 4/4 haste that can't be blocked by creatures with equal or less power for a turn seems like a pretty solid finisher.
I like it, more interesting than the generic 3/2. It recurring as a hasty 4/4 that stops something blocking could be pretty useful in a lot of situations. I like hasty 2 power over unhasted 3 power since they will both do the same damage after 3 turns on board but this guy gets in for more if you can't stick the creature for 3 turns.
I will probably give him a go over a less interesting 2 drop since he seems ok in aggressive decks as well as having some use to the more controlling ones.
This is the easiest include of the set. It's pretty rare to get a red two-drop that plays well in aggro, midrange, and BR recursion decks so well. Super excited, and happy it doesn't have weird CG human art like the latest additions to red.
I'll include this over Lightning Mauler, I think. Mauler is sort of a remnant of the Fires archetype that used to be a bigger deal for me.
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Not sure on this one. The blocking disruption doesn't stop most of the creatures that are actually stonewalling your attacks, and a vanilla 2/1 is really anemic in combat. And 6 mana is a huge Eternalize cost for red aggro decks. I think it needed menace or first strike to make the cut in smaller cubes.
I like lightning mauler more than this guy. Lightning mauler curves great into bigger creatures or can give himself haste if the situation calls for it.
I think this guy is kinda... bad. Any deck that wants this will not be eternalizing him and the 2/1 body is poop.
I could see maybe testing this over one of the generic 3/2's in red, but not a really good one like Abbott. I could be convinced to try it over Aether Chaser, but this doesn't excite me at all. The can't block trigger is a one off and is limited in it's targets. And the eternalize is almost unattainable in most of the red decks that would want the 2/1 beater.
Man, remember those halcyon days when we were all clamoring for 1R 2/1 Haste creature?
This one's kinda borderline, but I think it might make it. That Eternalize cost may seem like a crapton, but haste makes it more palatable, and preventing weenies from blocking can actually be kind of clutch when getting in damage early (see Den Protector's evasion).
Man, remember those halcyon days when we were all clamoring for 1R 2/1 Haste creature?
This one's kinda borderline, but I think it might make it. That Eternalize cost may seem like a crapton, but haste makes it more palatable, and preventing weenies from blocking can actually be kind of clutch when getting in damage early (see Den Protector's evasion).
Did the 2/1 haste vehicle guy even get a thread? Lol. speedway fanatic
I just realized that not only is the trigger a one off etb effect, but it's also limited to small creatures. I think this guy is pretty bad by cube standards.
I think this creature is actually pretty great. Sneaks past any 2 power blockers when you cast it from your hand and provides a good source of late game pressure from the graveyard later on. I'm honestly kind of surprised that people are so low on this guy.
I think this guy is fine for aggressive decks. Pretty much 2 guaranteed damage on turn 2 (that might also help your 1-drop get through). 6 mana may seem expensive for a deck that wants to win before getting to that much mana, but keep in mind that things don't always work out that way. I found that even aggro decks reach 6-7 mana quite often. And getting a card-neutral hasty 4/4 that helps you push damage through is quite a treat.
Not sure what to cut for it though. I wish it were a human for that subtheme. Most of my red 2-drops are humans now and I don't really want to cut one of them. Maybe I cut Abbot of Keral Keep? I would certainly not cut Aether Chaser though. That guy is the bomb. Top 5 red 2-drops.
Humm, I think this creature is not good enough. Most of time, it will simply be a 2/1 hasty body that can get through for one turn. And the Eternalize cost is just so huge for an aggro deck. We'd rather pass on this one. Not have been push enough for the cube.
I think it's OK and large cubes could happily play it.
I don't think it makes it in small cubes.
2/1 haste and making a small guy can't block when it enters the better field is a solid ability that would probably be enough for me to play it over the 3/2 in large cubes.
Making cards like spell skite/thing in the ice not block for a turn is nice.
In large cubes, they are a bit slower so 6 mana is a bit more of an obtainable goal.
It's soooo rare to have 6 lands and not be in an unwinnable board state with red Agro in s fast cube.
Therefore the eternalize adds to the value of thr creature , perportional to the speed of the format but it's not by much.
Cool to see aggro cards that offer value, but I feel like the eternalize comes too late. If it could help you evade a Baneslayer or Wurmcoil, I'd feel more enthusiastic about it.
I'll probably give it a shot, but not really expecting much.
Looking at my red 2-cmc creature section, Abbot of Keral Keep is the only one that I think Earthshaker can unseat, even if it's just a test run. I never liked Abbot and this is more aggressive, plus the Eternalize is a nice Plan C finisher if the game drags out.
At 720 im still running ash zealot. This guy is an upgrade to that most of the time, right?
This comes down more reliably on turn two, and blanks whatever their early blockers are, but it dies to a light breeze. Ash Zealot is not splashable, but with a second point of toughness, and first strike, it's a lot better at sticking around. The secondary abilities of each are more or less comparable (slightly better than flavor text).
Generally, this is more palatable simply because RR is really tough for a two drop, but in terms of power, I'd estimate them close to even.
I think it needs another relevant combat ability to get there. The evasion is OK, and better in 4/4 form, but haste and a generic 2/1 body isn't very exciting. I may give this a try, but I don't expect it to catch on.
Not quite pushed enough on either end. 2/1 haste with a weak and one time only evasion really isn't exciting. Coming back as a 4/4 is good, but I'd want this to cost 5 mana instead to be more consistently reachable in an aggro deck. Basically, if I can't bring him back with eternalize, I feel bad playing him.
Mini Goblin Heelcutter?
Aggressive 2-drop that can recur late game. Decent topdeck midgame since it has haste and can prevent smaller creatures from blocking. I think I might test this over Abbot, not sure yet. I like the fact that this can go immediately after a planeswalker and bypass a single dork generated by the PW to get through. Thoughts?
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Haste makes it exactly what aggressive decks want (outside of being a 3/2 for 2) and while the Eternalize is expensive, a 4/4 haste that can't be blocked by creatures with equal or less power for a turn seems like a pretty solid finisher.
Can't forget about that sick Mardu Woe-Reaper synergy, either.
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a 2/1 haste with the no block clause would not be good enough, and the decks that want a 2/1 haste don't usually get to 6 mana.
It's nice that it offers some flood insurance, but I think I will pass on this.
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I will probably give him a go over a less interesting 2 drop since he seems ok in aggressive decks as well as having some use to the more controlling ones.
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I think this guy is kinda... bad. Any deck that wants this will not be eternalizing him and the 2/1 body is poop.
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This one's kinda borderline, but I think it might make it. That Eternalize cost may seem like a crapton, but haste makes it more palatable, and preventing weenies from blocking can actually be kind of clutch when getting in damage early (see Den Protector's evasion).
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Did the 2/1 haste vehicle guy even get a thread? Lol. speedway fanatic
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Not sure what to cut for it though. I wish it were a human for that subtheme. Most of my red 2-drops are humans now and I don't really want to cut one of them. Maybe I cut Abbot of Keral Keep? I would certainly not cut Aether Chaser though. That guy is the bomb. Top 5 red 2-drops.
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I don't think it makes it in small cubes.
2/1 haste and making a small guy can't block when it enters the better field is a solid ability that would probably be enough for me to play it over the 3/2 in large cubes.
Making cards like spell skite/thing in the ice not block for a turn is nice.
In large cubes, they are a bit slower so 6 mana is a bit more of an obtainable goal.
It's soooo rare to have 6 lands and not be in an unwinnable board state with red Agro in s fast cube.
Therefore the eternalize adds to the value of thr creature , perportional to the speed of the format but it's not by much.
I'll test, with a tiny chance of inclusion.
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I'll probably give it a shot, but not really expecting much.
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This comes down more reliably on turn two, and blanks whatever their early blockers are, but it dies to a light breeze. Ash Zealot is not splashable, but with a second point of toughness, and first strike, it's a lot better at sticking around. The secondary abilities of each are more or less comparable (slightly better than flavor text).
Generally, this is more palatable simply because RR is really tough for a two drop, but in terms of power, I'd estimate them close to even.
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